Back in a Flash Multiple Choice Quiz | Animals

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Our first exhibit contains a bit of dust and a mechanical hare blazing round a quarter-mile track. I believe you just missed the exhibit's occupant, but no worries, he will be back in a flash and you will get to glimpse which world's fastest domesticated canine?

Answer: Greyhound

Greyhound racing blazed into view and popularity in 1912 with the introduction of the artificial hare. This invention gave the sport some symmetry and eliminated the distasteful killing of the live hare at the conclusion of the race. Greyhounds are sighthounds, built for speed with an average top speed of 39 mph (63 km/h).

2. Our next exhibit requires a short boat trip into the warm Caribbean waters. Although you just missed him dashing for that pod of squid, he'll be back in a flash and you will be able to glimpse which billfish that is the world's fastest fish?

Answer: Sailfish

Native to warm ocean waters, the sailfish is one of many billfish popular with sport fisherman. Along with the distinctive bill, the sailfish has a wide blue/gray/purple-hued dorsal fin, commonly called a sail, that spans the animal's entire back. Capable of reaching a top speed of 68 mph (110 km/h), the sailfish is the fastest fish in the ocean.

3. Our next exhibit is an aviary of massive proportions, the sky is the limit as required for this next creature to amaze. Don't blink, you'll miss him, but he's back in a flash snatching a duck from mid-air, super easy for which world's fastest bird?

Answer: Peregrine falcon

With a world-wide range, most peregrine falcon's breed in the extreme northern regions of Canada and Russia. The bird feeds almost exclusively on other birds, typically snatching them from the air, earning it the moniker the "duck hawk." The peregrine falcon has the honor of being the fastest animal on earth, with its dive-bombing speed in excess of 200 mph (322 km/h).

4. The next exhibit is a buzzing marsh full of bullrush and lily pads. If you missed the guy flying by, he will be back in a flash. If you hold real still, which world's fastest insect, according to the Smithsonian Institution, might rest on your finger?

Answer: Dragonfly

The identity of the world's fastest insect is somewhat disputed, but it is usually boiled down to a few varieties of dragonfly, with the horsefly being another candidate. Of the dozen different sources I reviewed, many of them identified the Southern giant darner as the fleetest of the bunch.

There were other varieties of dragonfly listed, so I stuck with the generic identification for a species of insects that have been clocked at nearly 60 mph (97 km/h).

5. Our next exhibit is a wide expanse of rustling grassland, perfect camouflage for our next creature. If he's camouflaged too well, don't worry, he'll be back in a flash and you will be able to witness the acceleration of which world's fastest feline?

Answer: Cheetah

The cheetah is the last remaining member of the genus "Acinonyx" of which several other species once existed, but have since become extinct. The cheetah has a wide range, covering the majority of the continent of Africa and a large portion of the Middle East.

Despite this wide range, the majority of the population is centralized in southern Africa. The cheetah is the world's fastest feline with speeds on average around 75 mph (120 km/h). Most amazing of all is the acceleration speed of the animal, measuring 0-62 mph in three seconds.

6. Thought it might be fun at the next exhibit to don some jodphurs and issue our guests tack. Can't find the horse you want to saddle? He'll be back in a flash for a sugar cube and you'll get to experience which world's fastest equine?

Answer: American Quarter Horse

Considered the most popular saddle breed in the United States, the American Quarter Horse has the largest breed registry in the world. Above all other horse breeds, the American Quarter Horse is built for high speeds at a quarter-mile or less. The horse's muscular body and heavy hindquarters allow it to accelerate over short distances to speeds averaging 55 mph (88.5 km/h).

In comparison, a thoroughbred has a top speed of around 40 mph and an Arabian around 35 mph, albeit both can maintain those speeds at greater distances.

7. The next exhibit is a surprise, as it includes a cold-blooded creature that happens to makes our world's fastest list. If you didn't see him pass by the glass, he'll be back in a flash for a bit of jelly and you'll get to see which world's fastest reptile in all his glory?

Answer: Leatherback turtle

Unlike its slow counterpart in "The Tortoise and the Hare," the aquatic leatherback turtle is astonishingly fast. Although terrestrial turtles are quite slow at a speed of a quarter-mile an hour, the aquatic leatherback reaches speeds of up to 22 mph (35 km/h).

Unfortunately, due to the high mortality rate of offspring, poaching and environmental concerns, the leatherback is considered a critically endangered species.

8. Back into the boat for a peek at our next exhibit and the show he will put on. In case you missed him jumping nearby, he'll be back in a flash and you'll enjoy your time viewing which world's fastest aquatic mammal?

Answer: Orca

This was another hottly debated decision amoung aquatic mammal experts. The determination was split between the orca (aka "killer whale") or the Dall porpoise. The Dall porpoise was listed with a top speed of 35 mph, but orcas have a range between 35 and 40 mph, thus the inclusion of the orca as the world's fastest aquatic mammal in this quiz. Both species are cetacea and are closely related toothed whales.

9. We have encountered another exhibit that includes a grassy plain. Our featured creature blends in well with her surroundings and is equipped with nimble legs and a set of horns. If you can't quite see her in all that waving grass, she'll be back in a flash if I throw out some corn. You'll then be able to view which world's fastest pecora?

Answer: Pronghorn antelope

Pecora is a group of animals including cloven-hooved creatures such as deer, goats, camels, and the fastest among them, the pronghorn antelope. Some people just call them deer, but considering the group also includes camels and cattle, they are so much more.

The fleetest of foot, pronghorn antelope are native to North America with a top speed of up to 55 mph (88.5 km/h) for short distances.

10. We close our tour in the cool air conditioning of our small creature exhibits. In case you don't yet see him, he'll be back in a flash for meal time, he doesn't miss a meal. Endemic to South America, this speedy creature may have developed as feral offspring of its more popular cousins. Which nocturnal pet is considered the world's fastest rodent?

Answer: Venezuelan jet black guinea pig

Although this creature is not very well known, my research uncovered multiple website that touted its credibility as a speed demon. As its name implies, this particular guinea pig is concentrated in Venezuela, where it is thought to have developed from feral guinea pigs. Due to the need to outrun predators, this particular guinea pig has been clocked at speeds ranging from 39-53 mph (63-85 km/h).

Source: Author TemptressToo

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor Tizzabelle before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.

Back in a Flash Trivia Quiz

Come one, come all and soon you'll see a collection of animals wild as can be. Be warned, be quick, and maybe you'll glimpse the fastest of creatures by earth, air, and sea.

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>

NEXT>